Are You Fulfilled or Just Happy?

Every week we boil down each episode of the Great People Show into one Great Post. To listen to this episode CLICK HERE

Are you fulfilled or just happy? “Just happy.” Let that sink in.

Most people spend most of their life pursuing happiness. Our society is so darn stuck in happiness. Our founding fathers thought enough of it that happiness was one of the inalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence, “The pursuit of happiness.” In 1776 avoiding the plague was happiness.

We shouldn’t be pursuing things that make us happy. Happiness is short term, a fleeting emotion. It’s tied to dopamine and serotonin. Once those chemicals are gone the happiness fleets. Happiness can deceive us into believing we are on the right path in life.

What does your path to real fulfillment look like?

We should be pursuing things that truly fulfill us. Most people don’t know what fulfills them.

Lets take a test…

If I gave you $1000 and told you for a full day, do what makes you happy. What would you do?

If I gave you $1000 and told you for a full day, do what fulfills you. What would you do?

Fulfillment is long term. Its when you are engaged, ‘life stops’ as Sara Stephens recently told us on the Great People Show. If we are in the relentless pursuit of something that fulfills us, then happiness can be a level constant.

If doing what fulfills you DOESN’T make you happy, is that ok? Fulfillment can wear us out. Most people quit when the road gets hard and we often fall short of fulfillment. Keep going, it’s worth it!!

Take Inventory

What does that inventory of your fulfilled life look like? Most people take inventory too late. On your death bed, you won’t remember these fleeting moments of happiness. When life comes to an end, you won’t be thinking of these little moments of happiness. You’re only going to recall what fulfilled you.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s ok to be happy. I’ll take a hit of serotonin any day. Sara brought a great analogy into the show. “Happiness is like an ice cream cone. You have to enjoy it before it disappears. We forget to enjoy the ice cream cone.” When you feel happy, bask in it, enjoy the moment, enjoy it like a melting ice cream cone. Then ask yourself: “Is this leading to what fulfills me in life?”